Defining Your Value

Within the last few weeks, there have been several, horrendous tragedies. Our reactions to these events depend on the value we place on human life.

How much is a human being worth?

$100?
$100,000?
$1 Million?
$10 Million?
$1 Billion?

????

Can you replace a human being?

The obvious answer to these questions is that human beings are invaluable. Meaning, there is no amount of money that is worth a single, human being.

But what about applying this value in other circumstances; would your values change?

What value of life would you place on these people?

– A small child?
– A senior adult?
– An elderly Alzheimer’s patient?
– A person in a coma?
– A terrorist?
– A murderer?
– A heterosexual man or woman?
– Someone of a different race?
– An alien to your country?
– Someone from a different culture and with a different language?
– A person in a different part of the world?
– A lesbian?
– A gay?
– A transgender?
– A bisexual?
– A homeless person?
– Or an unborn child?

Each of these poses different responses and emotions from us. And depending on your religious background (including atheism), each of us will react differently.Do we value human life?

Our reactions to current events and evils in our world stem from how we value human life.

I am not going to lie: this is something that can be a struggle. There are people that are harder to place a value on than others.

What about tragic events?

These tragic events do not personally affect me. No one close to me died because of it; and I do not know anyone involved, personally.

Ever since then, I have become more sensitive whenever I hear about the death or murder of others.

A few weeks ago, 49 people were murdered in Orlando. Last week, over 100 were killed in Istanbul. A few days ago it was Bagdad with another 100 murdered.

A few days after the Orlando attack, a two-year-old was attacked by a Florida alligator and drowned.

I sat at my desk, and tears flowed down my face, weeping and praying for that precious family, whose lives just got ripped apart.

I went home and gave my two-year-old and one-year-old sons a BIG hug and kisses all over. It hit me hard.

On another note, my wife and I are expecting a baby girl in late August. YEAH!!

At around eight weeks old (56 days), we saw our baby girl for the first time. She had hands and feet; you could see her formed head and nose.

It is very clear that she is fully human and is a precious gift from God.

What does the Bible say about the value of human life?

– Mankind is made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26)
– God forms us in our mothers’ wombs. (Psalms 139)
– We are beautifully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139)
– We are commanded to love God, and love others. (Mathew 22:37-39)
– God loves the WHOLE WORLD – John 3:16

Each one of us is special, and none of us are alike.

As believer, based on what we see in these verses, we must come to believe:
– Every human being is special.
– Every human is worth saving.
– Every human being is worth looking-out for.
– Every human is important to keep alive.
– Every human being is worth fighting for.
– Every human being is valuable to God.
– Every human being should know the love, salvation and grace of God– Every Life MATTERS.

And every human Life is worth mourning for, when he or she dies.

When Jesus lost one of his closest friends, this was His response—

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

He wept and mourned for the loss of his friend. If you read further in the story, you see that Jesus raised his friend from the dead.

The point is that every life matters.

Every life matters, and we should mourn their loss.

We should pray for their families, as they navigate the most difficult time of their lives.

We should:

– Mourn for those lost.
– Cry and weep for them and their families.
– Love others, unconditionally.
– Serve others.
– Fight for other people lives, especially those who cannot fight for themselves, like the unborn babies.
– Pray for the families who are hurting.

The way we value human lives affect our every interaction.

It affects our:
Kindness
Generosity
Love towards others
How we fight for other people
Treatment of others
Mourning
How we view the unborn to elderly